Serum doublecortin-like kinase-1 levels in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To assess the serum levels of doublecortin-like kinase-1 (DCLK-1) in dry and wet-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

patients and compare with those of control subjects.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional case control study was conducted on a total of 62 subjects consisting of 13 wet-type (exudative)

and 19 dry-type (atrophic) AMD patients and 30 control subjects. Serum DCLK-1 level was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

(ELISA) kit in all participants. Independent samples-t test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare mean serum DCLK-1 levels between

groups.

Results: Mean age for control and AMD groups were 68.9±4.8 and 70.8±5.1 years respectively (p:0.14). Male/Female ratio was 15:15 in

control group and 17:15 in AMD group. Mean serum DCLK-1 level was 1.24±0,71ng/mL in control, and 0.79±0,52 ng/mL in AMD groups

(p:0.006). Mean serum DCLK-1 level for dry and wet-type subgroups were 0,76±0,52 and 0,83±0,54 ng/mL respectively (p:0.70). There

was no statistically signifi cant difference between wet-type AMD and control groups (p: 0.134). In the dry-type AMD subgroup mean serum

DCLK-1 level was signifi cantly lower than the control group (p:0.031).

Conclusion: Serum DCLK-1 level was signifi cantly lower in AMD group compared to control group. Further studies including genetic and

immunohistochemical analyses are needed to investigate the potential pathophysiological role of DCLK-1 in AMD.